Manwatching

I got this book as a gift for my wife. She loves it as. It is the reason she got into cultural anthropology and it dissappeared somewhere along the line.

This is the book that started the whole body language study. a classic

While written awhile ago, the information remains relevant and even my teenage son grabbed it from me to read.

pearls from the master...

Book is not Very Good , But IS GOOD . Thanks

Love this book! So helpful for people watching (:

I have an original copy of the book that was published in 1977. I picked it up recently to show my spouse some of the interesting observations about body language, as we were discussing that. I was appalled at the complete lack of empathy in the framing of his descriptions. The text is entirely sexist and racist. Men are men, women are girls, according to Desmond. His view on homosexuality is slanted. Most of his observations about interactions between people have little to do with insight, and more to do with Morris' personal bias. It's framed as a scientific study, but of course none of it is peer-reviewed, and it was controversial even then.I confess that back in the 1970's and early 1980's, we would read things like this and we'd miss how damaging this line of thinking is to society as a whole. It has, in my own opinion, not only illustrated but, in part, contributed to the social constipation that we now (finally) are more aware of today, particularly with older generations. I will grant that there are some observations that resonate, but on the whole, this book should never be taken seriously. I know that Desmond Morris is in his 90's now, but he was a mature adult when he wrote this book. I certainly hope that over time he has come to realize how narrow-minded he was when he put these thoughts in print. I think this one is destined for the recycle bin, I don't even want to re-sell it at a yard sale.

Un libro muy muy interesante. Pero, tal vez, un poco para otros tiempos. Sin embargo vale la pena tenerlo en mi biblioteca

Although this book at first appears a little dated, Desmond Morris has given a brilliantly consise and insight into human behaviour. I particularly like the way he has broken the book up into small, easily digested chapters that allow you to browse areas of interest easily. His sections on hand gestures are very well illustrated, and make for fascinating reading. Overall, this book is a great read for those interested in psychology or behaviour and his fluid style of writing makes it an effortless read.

I am enjoying this book but I really would like someone to update it with Dr Morris. Photos look stale

Desmond Morris' Manwatching is a comprehensive introduction to the main features of Body Language derived from the work of Michael Argyll at Oxford University. It is exceptionally well illustrated with photographs, showing Body Language in use. Fans of Morris' Naked Ape and Human Zoo, know his clear and entertaining writing style.

Manwatching lists numerous real parallelisms in behaviour, gestures and feelings of animals and humans, in a brave mind setting educational experience of real value. This is a unique book, a true companion to read and refer to time and again. Interactions and similarities of behaviour in nature between animals and humans are breathtaking and as such highly educational and useful to form ideas and practical opinions about the real essence of human life and the natural world and more.A precious tool to understand ourselves and the world surrounding us.Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behaviour